Latest Mackay Seaport News

MPA donates new rescue boat to surf lifesavers

Originally published on 31 October 2005

Mackay Port Authority chairman Graham Davies today officially handed over the Inflatable Rescue Boat to Mackay Surf Lifesaving Club president Rod Leach

Michael De Pinto from the board rider's community and Mackay Port Authority seaport general manager Scott Keane inspect a 10 metre piece of railing torn from the car park at the North Wall Beach.

The Mackay Port Authority is offering lifesavers a helping hand to keep Mackay beaches fatality-free again this summer.

The authority today presented the Mackay Surf Lifesaving Club with an Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB).

The new rescue craft will be used extensively to patrol Harbour Beach and will also assist in water safety patrols by shadowing competitors during triathlon and outrigger events.

Mackay Surf Lifesaving Club president Rod Leach said the IRB played a vital role in protecting our local beaches.

Mr Leach said the new surf lifesaving season was in full swing with hundreds of people flocking to beaches each weekend.

We can usually expect to make one or two rescues each season, he said.

We will again be focussing on preventative action to keep our beaches safe.

Last year the club didn't record an official rescue but our lifesavers were involved in more than a thousand cases of preventative action and rendered assistance to 50 people who needed first aid treatment.

MPA chairman Graham Davies said the authority was proud to be involved in helping make Harbour Beach safer for the community.

Mr Davies praised the efforts of more than 80 active volunteers who gave up their weekends to patrol the city's popular swimming beach

It's interesting to note that in Queensland last year surf lifesavers made 2625 rescues - and an IRB was used in 323 of those rescues, he said.

Mr Davies urged beachgoers to help lifesavers patrol our district beaches by swimming between the flags and obeying safety directions.

"These people risk their lives and give up their time to make our beaches safe - we should be doing everything we can to make their job as easy as possible." he said.